1.1 Student Visual & Interdisciplinary Art Applicants

• Open to students ages 6–18 (primary school through high school), worldwide.

• Applicants may be enrolled in public, private, homeschool, or independent study programs.

• No formal art training is required. 

• Each art applicant may submit up to three (3) original artworks, including "Open Call for Visual & Interdisciplinary Art" and "2025 XCAC Contest Winner Entry".

1.2 Music Composition Applicants

• Open to students 6-18 and emerging composers under the age of 30.

• Music submissions must meet the specific requirements outlined in the Music Application Guidelines.

1.3 Individual & Group Submissions

• Submissions may be individual or collaborative.

• Group submissions are limited to a maximum of 4 participants per work.

• All collaborators must be credited and authorized prior to submission.

1.4 Submission Limits

• Each art applicant may submit up to three (3) works total across all MusicOn+ application routes, including the Open Call and the 2025 XCAC Winner Entry. 

• Each submitted work is reviewed and considered independently.

MusicOn+ InterArts Festival accepts art submissions in the following categories:

• Traditional Art
  Painting, Drawing, Printmaking

• Digital Art
  Digital Painting, Digital Illustration, Digital Collage, Comic Art

• Photography
  Still Photography, Experimental Photography

• Mixed Media
  Collage, Assemblage, Recycled & Repurposed Materials

• Sculpture & 3D Art
  Sculpture, Installation, Spatial or Material-Based Work, 3D Printing

• Conceptual Art
  Conceptual Practice, Participatory Art

• Video & Moving Image
  Video Art, Animation, Experimental Film

• Music & Sound + Art
  Original Composition, Sound Art, Experimental Music

• Literature + Art
  Book Design, Illustration

• Other
  Please specify clearly in the art application form

Please review your information carefully before moving on to the next page of the art application form. The organizing committee reserves the right to reassign submissions to a more appropriate category if necessary.

3.1 Original Work Requirement

• Artwork must be original, and fully AI-generated imagery is not permitted.

• Music submissions must be original compositions, not performances of existing works.

3.2 AI & Plagiarism Policy

• Artwork must be original, and fully AI-generated imagery is not permitted.

• Plagiarized content or unauthorized use of copyrighted material will result in disqualification.

3.3 Prohibited Content
Submissions must not contain or depict:

• Violence

• Hate speech, racism, discrimination, or harassment

• Sexually explicit or exploitative content

• Content that infringes on the rights of others

NextGen InterArts Foundation(NIF) reserves the right to disqualify any submission that violates these guidelines.

4.1 File Naming & Formats

• All files must be clearly labeled using the format:
  LastName_FirstName_Artworkname (English required)

• Accepted formats vary by category:

  • Accepted formats may include, based on your category:

  • Artwork Image: JPG (1-5MB)

  • Video & Moving Images, Music & Sound + Art: video link that is shareble, accessible

  • Literature + Art (PDF < 10MB)

  • Any category must include < 200 words artwork Description

  • Mixed Media, Sculpture & 3D Art, Conceptual Art: Supporting Multi-angle Video Link(optional)

  • All exhibitions are presented as high-quality prints. Original physical works are not required.

• Please refer to the official submission guides for full technical specifications.

4.2 Artist Statement

• Each submission must include a brief artist statement (5-200 words) describing:

  • Concept

  • Creative intention

4.3 Submission Edits & Support

• Once submitted, entries cannot be edited through the form. You may save during the submission.

• Requests for correction, withdrawal, must be sent to: info@nextgeninterarts.com

• We are not responsible for technical issues

• Accessibility accommodations may be requested due to disability, language barriers.

5.1 Review Responsibility

• NextGen InterArts Foundation (NIF) reviews all visual and interdisciplinary art submissions.

• Mayflower Art Center independently reviews all music composition submissions.

• Artwork questions or inquiries should be directed to: info@nextgeninterarts.com, 781-458-9891

• Music questions inquiries should be directed to: musiconfestival2022@gmail.com, 410-402-0521

5.2 Judging Criteria
Submissions are evaluated based on:

• Originality and authorship

• Conceptual thinking and creativity

• Technical clarity appropriate to age and experience

• Interdisciplinary or experimental potential

All decisions are final.

6.1 Application Fee

• $10 USD per submitted artwork

• Application fees are non-refundable, regardless of selection outcome or withdrawal.

• Fees support review operations, jury coordination, and exhibition preparation.

6.2 Exhibition Fee

• The exhibition fee is a voluntary participation contribution that supports exhibition production, educational programming, and the ongoing operations of our nonprofit organization. This contribution does not constitute a purchase of services, guaranteed exposure, awards, or instruction.

• The contribution amount is $150 USD per exhibited artwork.

• No exhibition fee is charged unless a work is selected, confirmed by applicant, and paid by applicant for the exhibition.

6.3 Application Fee Deduction Policy
If a submitted artwork is selected and confirmed for exhibition, the $10 application fee for that specific artwork will be deducted toward the exhibition fee.
Example:

• 3 artworks submitted → $30 application fee

• 2 artworks selected, and confirmed by applicants

• Exhibition fee:
  $150 × 2 – $20 = $280

Application fees for works not exhibited remain non-refundable.
Exhibition fees remain non-refundable once paid.
6.4 Payment platform
All payments will be processed securely through Stripe, a trusted third-party online payment platform.
6.5 Additional Fees

• No additional fees will be charged for framing, display, installation, or exhibition beyond the stated application and exhibition fees. All standard exhibition-related expenses are covered by the MusicOn+ InterArts Festival and administered by the NextGen InterArts Foundation (NIF).

• Payment Processing Notice: A standard payment processing fee (up to 4%) and a platform fee of $0.30 per transaction will be applied to cover Stripe transaction costs. Please note that individual credit card providers may impose additional charges (such as international transaction or currency conversion fees), which are determined by the card issuer and are not controlled by MusicOn+ or NIF.

• To confirm your participation in the MusicOn+ InterArts Festival exhibition, payment must be completed by the deadline stated in your notification email.

• If payment is not received by the deadline, your entry will be considered withdrawn, and it will not proceed to the final round of judging.

• Exhibitions take place at The Blanc Space (15 E 40th Street, 12F, New York, NY 10016).

• Works are displayed through:

  • High-quality printed reproductions

  • QR codes linking to full video, sound with visual, or process documentation

• Physical artwork shipping is not required.

• Selected works may be photographed or recorded during the exhibition for: Documentation, Educational use, Archival purposes

• Documentation reflects the exhibition context and may include multiple works within a frame.

• Exhibiting artists’ names may be included in exhibition credits and documentation (including website updates and nonprofit communications).

• Digital records and relevant documentation materials may be stored securely by NextGen InterArts Foundation (NIF) as part of its nonprofit archive.

• Visitors may appear incidentally in documentation photographs or video. By attending the exhibition, participants and guardians consent to such incidental capture.

• Requests for individual, focused documentation (dedicated photos/video of a specific work) must be submitted in advance to info@nextgeninterarts.com by July 31, 2026 (11:59 PM ET). If available, professional photography services may require a fee based on scope.

• Artists retain full copyright ownership of their work.

• By submitting, applicants grant NIF a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

  • Display works in exhibitions

  • Share works for educational, archival, and nonprofit outreach purposes

  • Use images in festival-related communications (print and digital)

NextGen InterArts Foundation(NIF) will not sell or commercially license submitted works without written consent.​

• Applicants may request withdrawal via email.

• Application fees are non-refundable.

• Exhibition fees are non-refundable once paid.

• Withdrawal requests received less than one (1) week before exhibition installation cannot be accommodated.

• Personal information is collected solely for festival administration and communication.

• NextGen InterArts Foundation(NIF) does not sell or share personal data with third parties.

• Data is stored securely and handled in accordance with nonprofit data protection standards.

• Attendees may appear incidentally in documentation photographs or video. By attending the exhibition, participants and guardians consent to such incidental capture.

NextGen InterArts Foundation(NIF) is not responsible for:

• Technical failures or corrupted uploads

• Platform outages or data loss beyond reasonable control

• Misinterpretation of submission guidelines

• NextGen InterArts Foundation(NIF) reserves the right to modify, delay, or cancel the festival if necessary due to unforeseen circumstances.

• A Digital Certificate of Exhibition will be issued approximately 1-2 weeks after the exhibition concludes

• MusicOn+ InterArts Festival provides a Digital Certificate of Exhibition as recognition of participation. While the exhibition supports learning and artistic growth, participation does not guarantee specific academic, portfolio, or admission outcomes, and related expectations fall outside MusicOn+’s responsibility.

• For art application and submission inquiries:
  info@nextgeninterarts.com  +1 (781) 458-9891

• For music submissions only:
  musiconfestival2022@gmail.com  +1 (410) 402-0521

These terms shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.